Weekly Adventures

Today was certainly one of the best I have experienced here yet. Although some people have been sick, I have somehow avoided it so far. Most of them were better today and when we arrived at Hope there were plenty of projects for us to participate in. One group spent the day painting a third creche. I stayed behind with a few members to sit in on a training session for VCT/HIV testing. It was so interesting to watch and see the steps that the counselors have to go through for pre and post test counseling. They tried to do it in English for us, but since that isn't their native language, it was making them nervous so they switched back to Xhosa. We still can't understand a word, so someone translated for us. when we left the session, we were asked to go to a local high school and observe a debate between some of the students. When we got there, the debate had already begun and they were arguing fiercely in English about abstinance and pre-marital sex. This is one of the many important and heated issues here especially with the high rate of teen pregnancy and the spread of HIV. the students were clearly invested in their roles and would stand up and shout at the other team. For english being their second language, they speak very eloquently. I was VERY impressed. After the time was up, we got to ask questions. We learned some very interesting facts about their culture and what is considered appropriate especially for each gender. As soon as we arrived back at the office, we loaded back into the van to head to another kids club. This time we were allowed to take pictures, and I have some good ones along with videos as well. :) the kids were adorable and they sang traditional songs and performed dances and dramas as well. They are so observant of the world around them and the issues like poverty and crime that need to change for them to lead successful lives. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! Every day has something new in store and something new for me to learn. I can't believe its already been 2 weeks since I left home. I'll be home before you know it. I love you all!!

Weekend Adventures and the Weekly Plan

Hey everyone! Sorry its been a while. They have been keeping us really busy with activities and touring the last few days. Friday we were again at Hope Worldwide, but our original plans for the day fell through. Our plans to lay a cement floor in another preschool seem to be falling through due to complexity and cost, but we're still trying to work something out. We had thought that we might spend the day Friday in a food garden, but due to the weather, cold and very rainy, we were told the project had been put on hold and instead we spent the morning sitting around. In the afternoon, we talked to a "traditional doctor" from the township of Khayelitsha. He is a Sangoma and works with natural medicine and herbs from the earth to heal people. Much of his art is only possible through a strong connection with the ancestors and it is actually the ancestors who choose who becomes a sangoma. It was truly fascinating to hear him speak about that part of the culture especially in relation to HIV and AIDS. Saturday we were not working but touring instead! We spent the entire day visiting parts of the country side such as the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, and other local attractions. We also went to a winery for a wine tasting. By the time we got back, everyone was tired, but we went out for a group dinner and then to a couple clubs to relax and play a few games of billiards. Sunday was another day for touring and relaxing. We went to a local museum and then to the mall. The weather was terrible, and so only indside activities were possible. Monday I literally spent from 9-4 sitting in a reception area of Hope doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! It was so frustrating. We were supposed to go into the town to search for a few kids who haven't shown up for meetings lately, but the hope employee got held up with budget issues. Instead, we sat and talked all day. I read an entire book. :) At least it gave us some time to reflect. Today we visited the University of Cape Town health center in the morning to compare their services and methods to that of DU. Then we were back to Hope for the afternoon and we went to a school to play with the kids and take them snacks at the kids clubs. It was so fun and the children are so energetic and athletic. They are also very well behaved and listen to their teachers. One 13 year old girl asked us "I would like to ask you why you are here? What are you doing in our town?" It seemed like an innocent question, but the tone she said it with was very interesting. It was a hard question to answer, and in the end we said for a school class. It makes me wonder though, why am I really here? What do I really have to offer these people? Do they feel like we are intruding on their lives?
Anywho...the weather was fantastic today! Sunny and warm and the next few days are supposed to be as well. The rest of the week we have plans to work at Hope, but we'll see what happens. As so many people here say, TIA (this is Africa).
I hope everyone is doing well. I love you all!

Our First Project!

Hello! So on Wednesday we arrived at Hope Worldwide and split into teams to complete our first project. I am currently working with the OVC (orphans and vulnerable children) group. We went out to a local creche (preschool) to look at the site in preparation for painting. The building was tiny. Only about 15 by 25 ft and it had a sand floor covered in carpet with wooden walls and a tin roof held on by rocks. For all intensive purposes, it was a shack capable of being destroyed by the big bad wolf. However, we were determined to paint it and the lady told us exactly what colors she wanted. All the children looked at us with big smiles and large brown eyes. We couldn't understand much of what they said, but they certainly were adorable. After we purchased the supplies from the local hardware store, we returned and spent the day painting. The lady who runs the school had all the children moved out and all the furniture moved as well. We painted the preschool side creme on the top half of the walls and orange on the bottom with rolling hills in the middle that had houses and trees scattered throughout. The infant side was painted powder blue with large shapes as a border and on the half wall separating the rooms, we painted the words "our hands can change the future" and then had the children come in one by one to put their hand prints on the wall. It was so much fun and so rewarding to see the difference by the time we finished at the end of the day. Today we worked on planning for a cement basement to be put down in a building for another local creche. Its amazing how resourceful these people are and how happy they seem even with how little they have. I hope soon that we will have more time to interact with them and talk to them about their lives. Everyone that we have met so far is very friendly and happy to talk.
All us students have a paper due tomorrow, so I have to write that tonight before I go to bed. It seems like we are asleep by 10:30 every night and yet by 3pm the next day we are exhausted again! Still, it is such a wonderful experience and I am loving every minute of it! I hope you all are doing well. LOVE YOU ALL!!

Hello Again! In the latest news from South Africa, I have now experienced an entire performance/gathering in a language I can't understand, been held hostage, and had a flat tire on one of our vehicles! It has definitely been an eventful few days. The place we are staying continues to amaze me and the people here are SO friendly. Yesterday we spent the entire day at a gathering in the local township for the national holiday "Youth Day" in commemeration of a teenager who was killed in riots of 1976. The entire country here seems to celebrate its holidays and many shops were closed. There were over 900 youth at the program in the township and they did presentations on violence, HIV/AIDs, teen pregnancy, and culture. It was amazing! Even though I couldn't understand anything that was being said, it was still wonderful to watch. The youth were very receptive and paid attention for an extrememly long amount of time (10 am to 4 pm)! It was so cool to watch. After the presentation, we helped to clean up. Due to the complete lack of trashcans in the building, the lunch trash had all simply been thrown on the floor. We swept it into the center of the room before trying to find a way to get it off the floor. When we turned around, the children had already begun to throw it into the trashcan that had been brought into the room with their bare hands. We spent the better part of an hour cleaning the building. It was interesting to watch all the dynamics. As far as being held hostage goes, it was really quite entertaining. Turns out the gas station that we stopped at didn't take credit cards. So after they stopped for gas, one of the adults had to go to the ATM to get cash and they kept the other car of people (myself included) at the gas station until our leader returned with the cash to pay for the gas. :) No need to worry, I am completely fine and enjoying every minute of my time here. The team that I am working with is AWESOME! and we are having a great time getting to know each other. Tomorrow we start the real work with Hope Worldwide1 I will talk to you again soon! Love you all!!!

Hey Everyone!!! I can't possible begin to tell you all how amazing it is to be here. The flights were definitely long, but they went with few problems and we all arrived safely yesterday morning. We spent the day settling in and touring around Stellenbosch, which is the town we are staying in. Our accomodations at the bed and breakfast are wonderful and the people are so nice. The town is lovely too, although it seems a little dead with the local college students gone for winter break. The weather is cool and rainy but not like Colorado rain where you freeze. I'm struck by the dichotomy of the classes. Within just a few miles, there are multi-million dollar houses and shanty towns the cover miles of land. The shanties are built out of scrap metal and other leftovers that people find and there are people walking everywhere. Tomorrow we start work with Hope Worldwide and I should have more stories soon. Love you all!